Country Guide • Guatemala

Flag of Guatemala

Guatemala is located in Central America. It is bound by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize and the Caribbean Sea to the east and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast. More than 66% of the country is mountainous while 62% is covered by forests.

Official NameRepublic of Guatemala
Area108,889km² (42,042mile²)
Population13,900,000
ContinentSouth America
Population per mile²331
Capital CityGuatemala City
Religions75% Roman Catholic, 20% Protestant, and the remainder following local native tribal beliefs
LanguageSpanish, Garífuna and 21 Mayan languages
GovernmentDemocratic
CurrencyQuetzal
GDP$48.3 billion
GDP per Head$3,700
Natural ResourcesPetroleum, nickel, rare woods and fish
Land UseArable Land 7%
AgricultureBananas, corn, coffee, sugarcane, beans, cardamom and livestock including cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens
IndustryTextiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, natural rubber, flowers and tourism
TourismVolcanoes, forests, lakes, ruins and its colonial history are just some of the reaons to visit this spectacular country
Natural Hazards 
Health RisksCholera, dengue fever, malaria, hepatitis, typhoid, dysentery
ClimateGuatemala’s climate varies according to altitude although Guatemala has a tropical climate along the El Peten Lowlands and the Caribbean coast, and is more temperate in the highlands. There are generally two seasons, the wet season from May to October and the dry season from November to May. Average annual precipitation varies between 70 -200 inches depending on the region. Average annual temperature ranges in Guatemala City are from 12 to 23°C in January to 16 to 29°C in May
TimeGMT/UTC-6 hours
National DaysSeptember 15
VisasUK nationals can visit Guatemala for up to three months without first obtaining a visa .Depending on the country you come from, stays are limited to 30 or 90 days. Citizens of some countries still need either a visa or a tourist card, so check with the closest Guatemalan embassy for up-to-date information.There is a US$30 (or Quetzal equivalent) airport departure tax which is payable at airline check-in desks. For internal flights there is an additional Q5 per person travel tax, which is also payable at airline check-in desks
British EmbassyEmbassy Details

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